Crank-shaft.



E. GAUTHIER. I CRANK SHAFT.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1911. 1,258,761 Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I [nVenTW Em e512 Gaflluer W yz;

E. GAUTHIER. CRANK SHAFT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 191]- 1,258,761.

3 SHEETSSHEET mmm/l/m JZVQIYTOP EmeflGaYEfUer Patented Mar. 12, I918.

E. GAUTHIER. CRANK SHAFT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 191?- Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Chicago, in the county of Cook To all whom it may concern:

UNITED strn'rns PATENT onnicn.

ERNEST GA'UTHIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CRANK-SHAFT.

Be it known that I, ERNEST GAUTHIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crank-Shafts; of which the following is a full, clear, concise, an exact description.

This invention relates to a crank-shaft, and more particularly to an adjustable crank-shaft which is especially applicable 'for use with open back inclinable presses in which it is desirable to vary the length of the stroke of the press. i

- Adjustable crank-shaftshave been and are in common use with. presses in which the shaft is supported by a single bearing. surface. When the shaft is supported. by .a double bearing, b etween which the crank and its associated pitman reciprocate, hpwever, serious difficulties are encountered in producing satisfactory adjustable crank-shafts.

It is one of the objects of this invention to,

provide an improved adjustable crank-shaft in which the crank is supported on: either side by a bearing surface.

' Another object conslsts in an' improved adjustable crank-shaft construction whereby the strength of theshaft against shearing and torsional strains is materially increased and whereby adjustability is obtained with a minimum number of parts.

A further object consists in simplified means for varying the throw of the crank and for accurately determining the amount of said throw.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In the preferred form of the invention "herein described it has been applied to an quite back inclinable press, but it will be obvious that the improved adjustable crank-shaft may be applied to numerous other devices and machines, such as heading machines and the like, and that c0n-' sequently the invention is not limited to this preferred application, the scope thereof beopen In the operation of presses it is very desirable to vary the-stroke of the movable die,

the most eficient stroke depending upon the character of the work which is to be performed.v Thus it. is advisable to limit the stroke of the press so that the movable die Specification of Letters Patent.

will not move through 'ing operation between face is very desirable,

efliciency of operation.

brated' flanges 15 an tric 12 integral with a distance very much which is being operated upon.- 'By thus limiting the stroke of the press,

two distinct Patented Mar. 12, 1918. Application filed July 20, 1917. Serial No. 181,787. I

advantages are obtained. First, the necesto sity of tool guards is eliminated, as the die does .not recede' a suflicient distance "from. the article operated upon to permit the interjection by the operator of his hands or fingers between the die and the material; sec- 0nd, by shortening the stroke. so that its length will be just sufficient to'clear the article operated upon, the speed of operation can be greatly increased and likewise the shearoperated upon will be more efliciently performed.

For these reasons shaft whichcan be used with open back inclinable presses and in supported on either side by a bearing sursince itprotects the operator and also increases the speed and the die and material an adjiistable crank which the' 'crank' is The-inventionis illustrated in the acco1n panying drawings, in which:

Figurel represents a perspective view of the improved crank-shaft;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 shows the shaft the plane 4-4 of dismantled with the parts in their relativepositions;

the calibraopen back inclinable press equipped with the improved adjustable crank-shaft.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 comprises the bearing surfaces 10 and 11 and the integral eccentric 12 and collar 13.

Fitted on the eccentric 12 is the adjustable eccentric 14, integral with which are the caliid 16. ,The adjustable eccentric 14 is designed tofit onthe eccenmeans of keys which fit in the key-ways 18 -and.19 of the collar 17 and the cooperating and 3, the shaft the shaft and is of such 7 be nicely fitted on the alinement with tVlSO similar keyj-ways on the vided in ea chof these these collars and on the flanges so that when alinement.

key-ways such as 20 in the eccentric When the adjustable eccentric 14 is fitted in place on the eccentric 12 integral with the shaft 11 between the collars 13 and 17, it can readily be rotated about said eccentric 12, the relative position of these two eccentric .surfaces determining the throw of the crank.

Loosely journaled on the outer surface of the adjustable eccentric 14 between the flanges l5 and 16 is the pitman or upper connection 24. The bearing surface of the pitman 24 fits between the flanges 15 and 16. This bearing surface is composed of two parts, the lower half being connected to the pitman, and the upper half being connected to the lower half of the bearing surface by the bolts 25 and 26. The cooperating bearing surfaces of the pitman and the adjustable eccentric14 may be lubricated in any desirable manner, preferably through an 011 hole such as 27.

The outer peripheral surface of the flanges of the adjustable eccentric 14 1s fitted with a series of circumferential notches ior key-ways such as 22 suitably calibrated for six different positions of the adjustable eccentric. The collars 13 and 17 are fitted with similar key-ways and like calibrations. The adjustable eccentric 14 is secured to the shaft by mean of the collars 13 and 17 through the agency of keys such as 2 8, illustra-ted in Fig. 5, which are driven nto the cooperating key-ways such as 22 of the a justable eccentric 14. and the collars 13 and 17 after the adjustable eccentric has been moved so as to place said key-ways n proper The key-ways in these collars and the adjustable eccentric 14 are so placed that for any given throw of the crank, two

of "said-key-ways on each collar will be in adjustable eccentr c.

Eachof the keys 28 is fitted wlth a groove 30, said groove serving to receive a stifl -45 spiral spring 31, illustrated in Fig. 7. ,The collars 13 and 17 are fitted with slmilar grooves 32' and 33 respectively. When the adjustable eccentric 14 has been rotated and adjusted to give the desired throw, and the keys 28 placed in position in the cooperating key-ways of'the collars and the ad ustable eccentric, the springs such as 31 are snapped into position in the grooves 32 and 33 in the collars 13and 17. One end is fitted With avright which fits in a' suitable slot such as 35 procollars, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 2. e A hereinbeforestated, the outer peripheral surfaces'. of the collars l3 and 17 and of the flanges of the movable eccentric 14 are calibrated toindicate the throw of the crank. These calibrations are placed on the numerals representing the same amount creases by one-quarter of of the spring 31 angled projection 34 of throw on the collar and on the flange are in alineInent, one of the circumferential notches or key-ways in each,collar will be in alinement with a similar key way in each flange of the adjustable eccentric. As illustrated in the developed view in Fig. 6, these collars and flanges are adjustable for six difl'erent lengths of throw.namely, and g of an inch and 1-}; and 1% inches. Obviously the calibrations and the key-ways cut in the flanges and collars respectively can be readily altered to obtain any desired amount of throw and hence any desired amount of variation in the length of stroke between two successive steps may be readily obtained. In the calibration here shown the increasing increment for the shorter strokes is one-eighth of an inch, varying from one-quarter to three-eighths and then to one-half. an inch. The stroke then inan inch, increasing from one-half to three-quarters of an inch, the remaining steps being three-eighths of an inch, increasing from three-quarters to one and one-eighth and then to one and onehalf inches. These particular stroke lengths have been chosen since they most satisfactorily meet varying operating conditions. The method of calibration and the position of the key-ways are clearly illustrated in 6, in which figure the adjustable'eccentrio is shown in a osition for a quarter inch stroke of the crank Fig. 8 shows the adjustable crank-shaft in position on an open back inclinable press i ing slide is obtained by changing the position of the movable eccentric 14 with respect to the eccentric 12 integral with the shaft 11.

sary to remove the retaining spring 31, which In adjusting the crank-shaft, it is first necescan be readily accomplished by prying the spring out of the slot by any suitable tool. The keys 28 are .thenremoved, after which the adjustable or movable eccentric 14 may be rotated,thereby changing its relative position to the collars 13 and 17 and likewise its relative position to the eccentric 12, which will vary the amount of throw. This movement can be readily accomplished by either a spanner wrench which will fit in the [ir-v cumferential notches or key-ways in the. flanges of the adjustable eccentric 14, andv With which the adjustable eccentric may be turned, or it may be accomplished by insertinga rod in the hole 47 in the end ofthb shaft illustrated in Fig. 8 and moving the shaft by means ofthe rod so that the eccentric 12 integral with the shaft will change its position with respect to the movable eccentric 14:. In this adjustment the .a'djustable eccentric is moved or turned until the corresponding numbers or calibrations on the collar and flange of the movable eccentric, representing: the desired amount of throw, are in alinement or Opposite each other. When the corresponding numbers are thus alined, a key-way 22 in each of the collars will be in alinement with a similar key-Way in each of the flanges of the adjustableeccentric and thus permit the insertion of a key such as 28 in each of these keyways. The retaining spring 31 is then sprung into the groove, after which the shaft is ready to be used. This same opera tion is repeated for any length of stroke which is desired, the designation for which appears on th'e,calibrated outer periphery of the collars and the flanges of the movable eccentric 14:. I

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the improved adj ustable crankshaft herein described has its greatest cross section and is consequently strongest for that I portion of the shaft which contains the -adof many small pants, such justing features and which is held between the bearings 40 and 41.. Consequently the addition of the adjustable element of the shaft has not weakened it, the shaft if anything being stronger for that portion-of its length which contains the adj ustingw elements.

It will also be observed thatthe adjustable feature of the shaftis obtained by the use of three parts-the eccentric and collar integral with the shaft, the adjustable eccen trio, and the removable collar. These parts are all held together by means of key-ways and four keys, thereby eliminating the use as screws, pins, been used with etc., which have heretofore adjustable c rank-shafts supported by a single bearing.

' Obviously the invention is. not limitedto the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described, but is capable of many variations and other applications without Ideparting fromitsspirit and scope, out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is e 1. In a press, in, combination, a' rotatable crank-shaft, bearings in which said shaft is j ournaled located at either side of said crank,

a slide reciprocated by said crank, and means of the stroke of said slide, said means permitting movement of said slide in both directions for all positions of said crank.

2. In a press, incombination, a rotatable crank-shaft, hearings in which said shaft is journaled located at either side of said crank,

a slide reciprocatedby said crank, and a pair of cooperating one-piece eccentrics which may be adjusted to'vary the length length of the stroke of said slide in combination,

as pointed eccentric,

of the throw will be altered.

3. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a shaft, an eccentric and col-.-

with said shaft, a second eccentric adjustably fitted over said first-mentioned eccentric, a removable collar, means to secure said removable collar to said first eccentric, and means to secure said adjustable eccentric to both of said collars.

4. 'In' a device of the character described, in combination, a shaft, an eccentric integral with said shaft, a second one-piece eccentric adjustably fitted over said first-mentioned eccentric, means to hold said eccentrics in this relative position, and means to rigidly lar integral connect said second eccentric to said shaft.

5. In a device of the character'described, in combination, a rotatable shaft, an eccentric, a second one-piece eccentric adjustably ,fitted over said first-mentioned eccentric,

means to retain said eccentrics in this position, 'means to secure said second eccentric to said shaft, and a pitman journaled to said second eccentric and reciprocated thereby as the shaft is rotated.

* 6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shaft, an eccentric and collar integral therewith, a second eccentric adjustably fitted over said first-mentioned eccentric, a removable collar, means to secure said removable collar to said first-mentioned eccentric, means to secure said adjustable eccentric to both of saidcollars, and a pitman journaled to said second eccentric and reciprocated thereby as said shaft is rotated. 7. In a device of the character described, a shaft, an eccentric and collar integral with said shaft, an adjustable eccentric cooperating with said first-mentioned eccentric, a removable collar, means to secure said removable collar to said firstmentioned eccentric, corresponding calibrations onsaid collars and said second eccentric, tric may be locked to said collars when a calibration on the adjustable eccentric is alined with like calibrations on said collars.

8'. In an adjustable crank-shaft, in combination, a shaft, an eccentric and collar integral wth said shaft, an adjustable eccentric cooperating with said first-mentioned a removable collar, means to secure said removable" collar to said first-mentioned eccentric and retain said adjustable eccentric in a desired position between said collars, collars and in said adjustable eccentric, and keys for locking said adjustable eccentric to said collars in any one of a pluralty of positions.

9. In an adjustable crank-shaft, in combi-' of said crank whereby the and means whereby said. second eccen- I circumferential key-ways in said cooperating with said first-mentioned eccen-' trio, a removable collar, means to secure said removable collar to said-first-me'ntioned eccentric and retain said adjustable eccentric in a desired position between said collars, circumferential key-ways in said collars and in said adjustable eccentric, keys for locking said adjustable eccentric to said collars in any one of a plurality of positions, and resilient means for retaining said keys in position in said key-ways.

10. In an adjustable crank-shaft, in combination, a rotatable shaft, an eccentric integral with said shaft-,bearings in which said shaft is journaled located at either side of said shaft, an adjustable one-piece eccentric cooperating with said first-mentioned eccentric, a pitman cooperating with said second eccentric, and means for changing the relative position of said two eccentrics whereby the throw of said pitman will be altered.

11. In an adjustable crank-shaft, a rotatableshaft, an eccentric integral therewith,

an adjustable one-piece eccentric cooperating with said first mentioned eccentricfretaining collars for said adjustable eccentric secured to said fir t eccentric, and peripheral calibrations on id collars and said adjustable eccentric to determine the amount of throw of the crank which is controlled by the relative position of said two eccentrics. 12, In a device of the character described, in combination, a rotatable shaft, an eccentric and collar integral with said shaft, an adjustable'eccentric cooperating with said first-mentioned eccentric, a removable-collar, a key for securing said removable collar and said second eccentric said retain said adjustable eccentric in position, flanges associated withsaid adjustable eccentric, key-Ways 1n the circumferential surcollars and said flanges, calibraface of said tions on the collars and when brought into ing to aline the key-ways in said collars and said flanges, keys for securely connecting said adjustable eccentric to said collars through the agency of said alined key-ways, and a pitman able eccentric face of said said flanges,

circumferential surface of said and j ournaled on the adjustable eccentric between said pitman being reciproca-ted when said shaft is rotated and said recipro- U cation depending upon the relative position of said two eccentrics.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of March, A. D. 1917. ERNEST GAU'JPHIER.

cooperating with said adj ust- 7 outer surdollars serving to Y said flanges, said calibrations O45 proper alinement serv-- 

